the problem with a straight out barter system is the trades would get wrote up as a loss of the cost of manufacturing(on both sides) however when you recieve a product for $0 there is nothing to report. that being said, in this society a barter system wouldnt work. we barter with money every day instead of goods. now i'm not an accountant, or anything similar so dont take my word on it. also i'd assume that it depends what type of company is doing the bartering. some non-profits cant pay workers but they can give them tickets to the local movies and similar things as long as cash doesnt change hands. bartering brings in a whole big area to grab things from most likly would vary state to state